Combination day and night reflector signal or sign



Jam 10, 1928.

E. R. BOOTS ET AL COMBINATION DAY AND NIGHT REFLECTOR SIGNAL OR SIGN 2 Seats-Sheet 1 Filed March 8. 1924.

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W/T/VE55 E, R. BOOTS ET AL.

COMBINATION DAY AND NIGHT REFLECTOR SIGNAL OR SIGN Filed March 8. 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESS atentedl Jan. 10, 1928.

NITED STATES,

1,655,891 PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND R. BOOTS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND SVEN AUGUST ESKILSON,OF

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNORS T AMERICAN GASACGUMULATOR COMPANY, OF

ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMBINATION DAY AND NIGHT REFLECTOR SIGNAL OR SIGN.

Application'filed March 8, 1924. Serial No. 697,730.

Our invention relates to day and night signals or signs comprising lightreflectors and information giving or imparting means associatedtherewith.

The general object of our invention 1s to combine light reflecting meansand information imparting means in a manner to provide a novel device ofthe. character indicated.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a device of thecharacter indicated com prising light reflecting means and informationimparting means which latter is located in a plane in front of the saidlight reflecting means.

Another object of our invention is to pro vide a device of the characterindicated comprising light reflectors and information impartingmeans'located in front of said reflectors and rendered visible by thelight rays reflected from said reflectors.

To these and other ends our invention comprehends the construction andarrangement of parts as hereinafter described in detail, particularlypointed out in the claims,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification and in which We have illustrated certain convenient formsof embodiment of the inven- 3e .tion. However it will be understood thatchanges in the details of construction may be made within the scope ofthe claim without departing from our invention.

In the drawings: I

as; Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation, a portion of the structurebeingbroken away to more clearly disclose other portions thereof, of across arm structure adapted for use at railway crossings;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; 7

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of a modified construction ofrailway crossing signal embodying our invention;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of a construction embodying ourinvention adapted for use as a highway signal;

Fig. 5 is a View in front elevation of a portion of a reflector signal,a portion of a te front light diffusing plate being removed to exposethe reflectors, combined with means for advertising or other purposes;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of a letter formed of reflectors;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the letter shown in Fig. 7with a portion of a front light diffusing plate broken away to exposethe reflectors; and Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 9-9 ofFig. 2 in a plane parallel with the surface 65.

Devices embodying our invention are particularly well adapted for useupon highways, streets and elsewhere for signaling motor vehiculartratfic to apprise the same of some condition which such trafiic shouldknow and thereby contribute tothe safety of the same. Such devices arealso adapted for use for the purpose of imparting information ofdifferent character. They may be employed, for example, for displayingadvertising information, catch words which it may be desired topopularize, or to disseminate information of any character to persons inthe vicinity thereof, but more particularly to automobile trafic whereinheadlights are employed,-the rays of light from such headlights beingreflected from the reflectors of the devices and the said reflectedlight operating to signal or indicate the presence of the device and theinformation desired to be imparted thereby.

Referring to the drawings: 1 designates the cross arms of a railwaycrossing signal which arms are supported upon the upper end portion of avertical column or post 3 in the usual and well known manner.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be noted that thecentral portions of the arms 1 are provided with forwardly extendingflanges 4 and also with rearwardly extending triangular pyramidal shapeddepressions 5. The inner surfaces 6,7 and 8 of the depressions 5 arelight reflecting and are located at right angles to each other that is,they are located in the same relation to each other as are the surfacesof a corner of a figure of cube shape. In consequence, the reflectedrays of light are parallel to the inoident rays. If desired the innersides of the depressions may be lined with mirrors of glass. The flanges4 are provided with grooves 9 upon their inner sides adjacent theirouter edges within which the outer edges of a plate 11 are seated, whichplate may be transparent or light dilfusing and may be clear or coloredas may be desired.

The said plate is of'the shape of the cross arms 1. The said plate mayconsist of any suitable material but usually consists of glass. Theplate 11 is held or retained in place by a cross-arm frame 15 havingoutwardly extending ears or lugs 16 which are located in opposedrelation to cars or lugs 17 which project outwardly from the flange v4.The said frame 15 is held in place by screws 20 which pass throughopenings through the ears or lugs 16 and engage with screw-threadedopenings in the ears or lugs 17 The said reflector covering plate may beomitted if desired.

In Fig. 3 we have shown a modification of the construction in whichreflectors are arranged in groups of three as in the previous structure.llhe mirrors of the respective groups are designated 25, 26 and 27 As inthe construction shown in Fig. 1 the arrangement of the mirrors 25, 26and 27 of the respective groups of mirrors is such that the reflectingsurface of each mirror is at right angles to the reflecting surfaces ofthe other mirrors. The respectlve groups of reflectors are arranged inadjacent relation to the upper edges of the opposite end portions of thecross-arms 1 of the railway crossing signal.

In the construction as shown in this Fig. 3 the plate is omittedalthough it is preferred in actual practice that a diffusing plate beemployed because by its use the field in front of the reflector withinor 'from which the operator of an approaching automobile or othervehicle or structure having head-lights may see the li ht resulting fromthe reflection of the lig t rays of the lamp from the reflectingsurfaces is increased. However,

in many cases a device or structure in which signal or sign in which themirrors or re- .flectors 30, 31 and 32 are arranged in groups thereflectorsare employed apart from and independently of any diffusingsheet or sheet of other character may be employed with entiresatisfaction.

It will be observed that in the forms of construction shown in Figs. 1and 2 and 3 the mirrors are arranged in the form of a cross. In thefirst structure as illustrated the mirrors may be said to constitute thebody of the cross whereas in the second structure as illustrated themirrors orreflectors outline one edge, the upper edge, of the oppositeend portions of the cross-arms.

Reflector signals of the character illustrated in these figures areparticularly adapted for use at points where highways or streets crosssteam or electric railway tracks for the purpose of cautioningapproaching automobilists or traflic of any kind upon the f highway.

In Fig. 4 we have shown a construction of of three. The reflectingsurfaces of these reflectors are arranged at right angles to each otheras in the case of the three sides of a corner of a cube. The said groupsof mirrors are arranged within and to form a hexagonal shaped figure andmay be combined with a light diffusing sheet or sheet of othercharacter. When combined with such a sheet the rays of light from alight source, such as an automobile lamp or the like, are reflected orreturned in directions parallel with the incident rays. Such reflectedrays, when a light diffusing sheet is employed, are manifested in spotsof light of hexagonal shape which correspond in position to thepositions of the respective groups of reflectors 30, 31 and 32.

A reflector structure of this character is adapted to be mounted withina head 35 supported upon a column or pedestal 36. The face of the saidhead surrounding the groups of reflectors may be provided with lettersformin words indicating the character of the big iway adjacent the saidsignal or with words or symbols furnishing any other desiredinformation.

For instance, as illustrated, the reflector structure is associated withthe words Cross roads. It will be observed that by the employment of asignal of this character the character of the dangerous condition whichis being approached by the operator of an automobile or other vehiclehaving headlights is indicated.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings we have shown a construction comprisinga relatively large number of groups of reflectors arranged to form astructure of flattened bandlike form which may be of any width andlength desired within reasonable limits. The reflecting surfaces 37, 38and 39 of the respective groups of reflectors are arranged at rightangles to each other so that the rays of light which are reflectedtherefrom are parallel to the incident rays. Preferably the front of thestructure formed by the groups of reflectors is covered by a lightdiffusing plate 39 of suitable material, such as glass with roughenedsurfaces. Any other kind of plate of transparent or translucent materialmay be employed. If preferred, the structure may be employed without acovering plateof any kind.

Associated with the reflectors are letters 40 which may be combined in away to spell such words as may be necessary to impart certain desiredinformation,-such as advertising information. These letters consist; ofopaque material such as paint, varnish, metal or any other suitablematerial, and being located over the reflectors cover certain of them orportions thereof so that the light rays are not reflected back to theirsource. In consequence of the presence of letters of opaque materialdark lines or shadows of letters or other symbols within the region ofthe reflectors are visible in the night-time to approachingautomobilists or operators of loo other vehicles having head-lights.They are of course visible in the day-time-indepenol.- ent of thepresence of the reflectors or other means which might be employed forthe purpose of directing attention thereto. Instead of employing lettersof opaque mate- 'rial we may employ sheets of colored glass tors.

The letters indicated upon Figs. 5 and 6 ofthe drawings are G and Uwhich might be the two first letters of the word- Gulf. It will beapparent that the letters to form any word or words desired may beemployed.

In Figs. 7 and 8 we have indicated constructions in which the groups ofreflectors 41, which respectively comprise the three reflecting surfaces42, 43 and 44 at right angles to each other, arearranged to formletters. The letter ,U is shown, but it will be understood that the saidgroups may be arranged in the form of any. letter desired. Thereflectors forming these letters may or may not be covered by sheets oflight diffusing material 45 or other suitable material.

The white areas 46 shown in Fi s. 1, 5 and 8 represent spots of li htformed by the rays of light which are reflected from the reflectingsurfaces of the respective groups of re flectors, while the dark areas47 represent regions through which no rays of light are reflected fromthe said reflectors.

In the several forms of construction shown the information impartingmeans is such as may be seen in the day-time, at which time thereflectors cannot be said to perform any useful function as such, but inthe nighttime, that is, in darkness, the presence of the reflectors ismade evident to the operator of a vehicle having head-lights thereon byreason of the fact that the light from the head-lights of automobiles orother vehicles which strikes the surfaces of the re flectors isreflected back. In constructions in which the mirrors are covered overwith Such illumined spots may be discerned from a long distance by theoperator of an automobile or other vehicle having head-lights which maybe approaching the signal. The same is true'of the construction shown inFig. 3 in which the light rays from the lamp of an approaching vehicleare reflected from the reflectors directly back toward the approachingvehicle or other structure carrying a headlight so that a person in thevehicle or other structure becomes cognizant of the presence of thecautionary signal. In other words, reflector covering plates of thecharacterindicated may be employed if desired andin some cases are.preferablebut are not essential to our invention.

It will be understood that the reflecting surfaces arranged in groupsand in such relation to each other as to cause the reflected rays toreturn in parallel relation to the incident rays may be provided in anysuitable manner, as, for instance, is shown in the application of SvenAugustEskilson, Serial No. 660,674, and need not be limited to theconstruction shown.

It will be seen that by our invention we have provided signals or signswhich are efficient for the purpose for which they are designed notonlyin the day-time but also in the'nighttime. Devices'of the characterinvolving our invention may be employed at a minimum of expense becausethe cost of construction and installation is low and because alsopractically no expense of upkeep is involved.

The term highways employed in the specification and claim, is intendedto inthe incident rays, means whereby the re flected rays are manifestedby illuminated spots adjacent the said reflectors, and means associatedwith and in a plane in front of the said reflectors for impartingdesired information.

In testimony whereof the said EDMUND R. BooTs has hereunto signed hisname the 4th day of March, 1924. and the said SvnN AUGUST ESKILSON hashereunto signed. his name the fifth day of February, 1924.

EDMUND R. BOOTS. SVEN AUGUST ESKILSON.

